Portulaca plant named,‘DPORMPZO’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘DPORMPZO’ is disclosed, characterized by large, vivid orange flowers, dark green foliage, and a semi-trailing habit. Plants are well-branched. The new variety is a Portulaca, typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Portulaca oleracea.

Variety denomination: ‘DPORMPZO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Portulaca cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventors, Pazit Sharoni, Amir Zuker and GavrielDanziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of thebreeding program was to produce useful new Portulaca varieties forornamental horticultural production. The open-pollination resulting inthis new variety was made during 2016.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to asPortulaca ‘PT-15-1250’. The pollen parent is unidentified. The newvariety was discovered in July of 2017 by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 2016 open pollination, in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. After selection of the new variety,extensive confidential testing has been performed to determine anddefine the desirable characteristics of the new variety.

Asexual propagation of Portulaca was performed by vegetative basalcuttings at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israelduring the Fall of 2017.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DPORMPZO’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DPORMPZO’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DPORMPZO’ as a new and distinct Portulacacultivar:

-   -   1. Controlled semi-trailing habit    -   2. Large flowers.    -   3. Vivid orange flower color    -   4. Dark green foliage.    -   5. Freely branching habit

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of ‘DPORMPZO’ are similar in some horticultural characteristicsto the seed parent. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are vivid orange; flowers of the        seed parent are dark pink.    -   2. Plant habit of the new variety is more controlled than that        of the seed parent.    -   3. Flowers of the new variety are larger than those of the seed        parent

Comparison with the pollen parent is unavailable, as this varietyresulted from an open pollination.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORMPZO’ can be compared to the commercialvariety Portulaca Nano ‘Orange’, unpatented. ‘These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics;

-   -   1. This comparator has more compact and dense habit than        ‘DPORMPZO’.    -   2. The flowers of this comparator are a different shade of        orange than flowers of ‘DPORMPZO’.    -   3. Foliage color of this comparator is lighter green than        foliage of ‘DPORMPZO’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORMPZO’ can also be compared to thevariety Portulaca Pazzaz ‘Orange Flare’, unpatented. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DPORMPZO’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage color of this comparator is lighter green than        foliage of ‘DPORMPZO’.    -   2. ‘DPORMPZO’ produces larger flowers than this comparator.    -   3. Plants of ‘DPORMPZO’ are more vigorous than plants of this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DPORMPZO’ at about 8 weeks of age, grown in a 13 cmpot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of a typical flower of the new variety.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DPORMPZO’ plants grown outdoors in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were takenduring Spring. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 24° C.to 38° C. during the days, 12° C. to 26° C. during the nights.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Portulaca oleracea ‘DPORMPZO’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: Vegetative cuttings.-   Root description: 10 to 12 days at approximately 24° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous; close to Yellow-White 158C in    color, freely branching.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-trailing.-   Pot size of plant described: 19 cm.-   Height: About 23 cm.-   Plant spread: About 28 cm radius.-   Growth rate: Medium vigor.-   Branching characteristics:-   Length of primary lateral branches: 28 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.6 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 8 per 1 main stem.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—About 0.35 to 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Tip Near Yellow-Green RHS 144B; Base near RHS            Red-Purple 59B(Anthocyanin coloration).        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Internode length: Approximately 1.3 to 2.5 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Arrangement: Alternate, simple.    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 15 per branch.        -   Average length.—3 to 4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—1.7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded, slightly mucronate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Straight, occurring at an angle of about 45-70°.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Close RHS 137B. Young            foliage under side: Close to RHS 137D. Mature foliage upper            side: Close to RHS 137A. Mature foliage under side: Close to            RHS 137C.        -   Venation.—Indistinguishable from leaf blade.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring to Fall in Israel.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 4 weeks to the first    flowers.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single flower, abundant    flowering.-   Rate of flower opening: About 3 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: About 1 day.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—1 to 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B; tip anthocyanin flushed            near Red-Purple 59B.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—About 5.3 cm.        -   Depth.—About 2 cm.-   Corolla/petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—5 petals merged/fused at the base.        -   Length.—2.6 cm.        -   Width.—2.4 cm.        -   Quantity.—5 petals.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Apex.—Emarginate to retuse.        -   Shape.—Obovate with a cuneate base.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Mostly flat, upper margin slightly rolled down.-   Color:-   When opening:    -   -   Upper surface.—RHS Orange-Red N30B. Base near Yellow 13A.            Veins through base, near N30B.        -   Lower surface.—RHS Orange-Red N30B. Faint basal coloration            near Yellow 12C.-   Fully opened:    -   -   Upper surface.—RHS Orange-Red 33A. Base near Yellow 13A.        -   Lower surface.—RHS Orange-Red 33B. Small area of yellow            coloration at base, near Yellow 12B.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—2 Sepals per flower.        -   Shape.—Fused into a tubular calyx. Pointed apex.        -   Length.—0.9 cm to 1 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm to 1 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144B, anthocyanin            flushed Red-Purple 59C. Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144B.-   Peduncle: None.-   Fragrance: None detected.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Many, about 60.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—About 0.8 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17B.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow-Orange 17A. Quantity: Abundant.-   Gynoecium:-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 0.8 cm. Color: Base near RHS Yellow 9B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Six branched stigma. Color: Near RHS Yellow            9A. Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seeds are minute and dark grey with a circular    shape.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility    observed. Portulaca is not typically susceptible to many diseases    and pests. The most common diseases being typical root rots from    over watering, or black stem, Dichotomophthora portulaca. The most    common pest of Portulaca is Aphid.-   Temperature tolerance: Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C.    High temperature tolerance near 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plantnamed ‘DPORMPZO’ as herein illustrated and described.